Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 14
पक्षिण ऊचुः । अनाथनाथ सर्वज्ञ को वरो नः समीहितः । इतोपि त्र्यक्ष यत्साक्षात्तिर्यक्त्वेपि समीक्षिताः
pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ | anāthanātha sarvajña ko varo naḥ samīhitaḥ | itopi tryakṣa yatsākṣāttiryaktvepi samīkṣitāḥ
قالتِ الطيورُ: «يا ملجأَ من لا ملجأَ له، يا عليمَ كلِّ شيء، أيُّ نعمةٍ نبتغي؟ يا ذا العيونِ الثلاث، هذا وحده يكفينا: أن تنظرَ إلينا نظرًا مباشرًا، وإن كنّا من البهائم.»
Birds (pakṣiṇaḥ) addressing Śiva
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Internal audience of the Kāśī narrative
Scene: Birds speak with folded wings, eyes uplifted toward the three-eyed Lord; the emphasis is on the mutual gaze—Śiva’s compassionate look meeting the creatures’ humble wonder.
FAQs
Darśana of Śiva is itself the supreme blessing—his glance uplifts all beings, regardless of birth.
Kāśī’s māhātmya is echoed: the Lord’s immediate presence and liberating attention (darśana) is the hallmark of the sacred space.
Implicitly, seeking darśana—approaching the Lord with humility and devotion—is presented as the highest spiritual ‘practice’ here.